ICPHA is an organization of local public health administrators that works to enhance local public health practice through advocacy, leadership, education, communication, and relationships with local, state, and national public health system partners.

Increase Local Public Health Funding Without Increasing State Tax Dollar Appropriations Position Statement

Increase Local Public Health Funding Without Increasing State Tax Dollar Appropriations

Position Statement

Background

Funding from state agencies to local public health agencies programs and service activities continue to decrease annually though the needs of Iowans increase. Local public health agencies are the primary service providers to Iowans while the state agency’s primary responsibilities are to manage funding contracts and serve as fiscal pass through. (Example: H1N1 vaccine response, disaster response, in-home care, breast and cervical cancer screening, childhood lead poisoning, tobacco to list a few of many programs). Adequate funding is not reaching the local public health agencies to provide services as substantial portions of funding remain at the state agency level. The current system forces local public health agencies to choose between decreasing services or increase local tax dollar support to maintain level of services. It is time to evaluate the state and local public health funding system if Iowa is to ever achieve the healthiest state initiative goal. Time is of essence to evaluate the current state to local public health program funding system and determine if the percent ratio of state to local appropriations for services are providing the maximum services for the dollars invested.

Solution:

Establish a study committee consisting of equal number of members from local public health, Iowa department of public health and legislators to evaluate and determine if the percent ratio of state to local public health agencies and Boards of Health appropriations for services and bureau programs align within a division to provide maximum service for the dollar invested.